Last week, 353 originators switched companies and 1,245 individuals obtained their NMLS license. Notable originator movements last week include:
Figures are based on last 14 months’ production.
Top Gainers (non-Bank/CU):
Calculations based on last aggregate production of individual LO’s 14 months’ production for companies with at least 20 loan officers. Excludes companies below $100M in 14mo LO production value after gains factored in.
Recently, we looked at the surface-level impact of 25,072 loan officers exiting the industry in early 2026.
At a national level, that translated to ~4% of buy-side agents potentially losing a lending partner.
But that view treats all relationships equally.
They aren’t.
Looking Deeper: Relationship Strength
We analyzed how many of those exiting LOs had repeat transaction relationships with the same agents in 2025.
The results narrow the picture significantly:
What the Data Suggests
While 25,000+ LOs exited, only a subset had evidence of repeat, established agent relationships.
And that subset gets smaller quickly as you raise the bar.
This is important.
Because repeat transactions are one of the clearest signals of:
In other words, not all LO exits carry the same weight.
Reframing the Opportunity
The initial data suggested a broad, but shallow, redistribution of relationships.
This deeper cut suggests something more nuanced:
That shifts how this should be interpreted.
Instead of a wide-open land grab, the real opportunity is more targeted:
Why This Matters
If you’re thinking about growth in 2026, this distinction matters.
Because:
The LOs with 3+, 4+, or 5+ transactions with the same agent weren’t just participating in deals — they were likely part of that agent’s core referral network.
The Bottom Line
25,072 LOs exiting tells you how much movement there is.
This data tells you where the meaningful movement is.
And it’s clear that:
The opportunity isn’t just in the volume of relationships changing hands.
It’s in identifying the ones that were actually built to last.
When it comes to mortgage market intelligence, you have a handful of options, and RETR is one that truly stands out. Here’s what David Kakish, top producer at Anchor Home Loans has to say about RETR: “With RETR, I can scout potential referral partners, spot refi opportunities, and deliver instant value to my network all in one place. It’s become my secret weapon for growing relationships that actually convert.”
But you don’t have to take their word for it. RETR offers a free trial to loan officers, branches, and mortgage companies to judge the quality of the data and insights for themselves.